Abstract: A magnetic shield in which all domain patterns and orientations are stable and which are consistently repeated each time said shield is exposed to an initialization field, is disclosed. This has been achieved by giving it a suitable shape which ensures that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to the initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to one another. Most, though not all, of these shapes are variations on trapezoids.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer and first and second coils located in regions sandwiching the pole layer. Each of the two coils is flat-whorl-shaped. The first coil incorporates an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion opposite to the inner connecting portion. The second coil also incorporates an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion opposite to the inner connecting portion. The inner connecting portion of the first coil is electrically connected to the inner connecting portion of the second coil. The outer connecting portion of the first coil is electrically connected to the outer connecting portion of the second coil, too. In such a manner the two coils are electrically connected to each other in parallel.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer and first and second coils located in regions sandwiching the pole layer. Each of the two coils is flat-whorl-shaped. The first coil incorporates an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion opposite to the inner connecting portion. The second coil also incorporates an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion opposite to the inner connecting portion. The inner connecting portion of the first coil is electrically connected to the inner connecting portion of the second coil. The outer connecting portion of the first coil is electrically connected to the outer connecting portion of the second coil, too. In such a manner the two coils are electrically connected to each other in parallel.

Abstract: A pole layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface, allows a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a coil to pass therethrough, and generates a write magnetic field for writing data on a recording medium by means of a perpendicular magnetic recording system. A shield incorporates: a first layer having an end face located in a region of the medium facing surface forward of the end face of the pole layer along the direction of travel of the recording medium; a second layer disposed in a region sandwiching the pole layer with the first layer; a first coupling portion coupling the first layer to the second layer without touching the pole layer; and a second coupling portion coupling the pole layer to the second layer and located farther from the medium facing surface than the first coupling portion.

Abstract: A data processing method and system for retrieving a subset of k items from a database of n items (n?k) firstly determines a limited set of bk items (b>1) in the database which have the greatest similarity to an input query t according to a given similarity function S. A result subset is then constructed by including as a first member the item having the greatest similarity S to the query t, and iteratively selecting each successive member of the subset as that remaining item of the bk items having the highest quality Q, where Q is a given function of both similarity to the input query t and relative diversity RD with respect to the items already in the results subset. In this way the diversity of the results subset is greatly increased relative to a simple selection of the k most similar items to the query t, with only a modest additional increase in processing requirements.

Abstract: An internet website which presents a hierarchical menu structure to users includes a personalization engine 14 to automatically modify the menu structure for each user at least according to that user's previous browsing history at the site. In one embodiment the engine 14 provides, as menu options for a selected menu page of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of the most probable links which the user may wish to reach from the selected menu page. In another embodiment there are provided, as additional menu options for a particular menu page, a plurality of links which are similar, as determined by meeting a predetermined similarity metric, to menu options present on the particular menu page other than through meeting the similarity metric.

Abstract: A method of controlling video signals in a multi-participant video conference involves assessing the level of video signal required from each participant to mix the desired broadcast video signals, and using the result of this assessment to dynamically control the video output from the endpoints of the conference participants. The assessment of the required level of video signal preferably utilizes an audio mixing algorithm, such that the video outputs of those participants whose audio signals are currently being discarded in the audio mixing process are switched off at the endpoints, or are transmitted in a lower bandwidth format, thereby reducing the overall bandwidth requirements of the conference and reducing processor resources to mix the broadcast video signals.

Abstract: A method of providing media content, such as music and video, to callers on hold involves the generation of the media content locally in the environment of the held caller, rather than the transmission of the content over the network. The local call server of the held caller is signalled when the call has been placed on hold by the server which has placed the call on hold. The caller's server then activates a music-on-hold server (or other media content generator) to provide the media content directly to the caller's telephony terminal. The advantage of this is that the media content is not transmitted across the network, allowing a higher bandwidth to be used locally for the media content without utilizing wide area network resources. This results also in the media content being provided in a higher quality format to the caller, avoiding the loss of quality associated with transmitting music using compressive voice codecs over packet-based networks.

Abstract: A data processing method and system for retrieving a subset of k items from a database of n items (n≧k) firstly determines a limited set of bk items (b>1) in the database which have the greatest similarity to an input query t according to a given similarity function S. A result subset is then constructed by including as a first member the item having the greatest similarity S to the query t, and iteratively selecting each successive member of the subset as that remaining item of the bk items having the highest quality Q, where Q is a given function of both similarity to the input query t and relative diversity RD with respect to the items already in the results subset. In this way the diversity of the results subset is greatly increased relative to a simple selection of the k most similar items to the query t, with only a modest additional increase in processing requirements.

Abstract: A conference system is provided for connection in a digital audio signal transmission system (50), for receiving N encoded audio signals from N conferees, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to three. The system comprises a decoding system (90, 91, 92) for decoding the N audio signals, a selection system (100, 130) for selecting one from the N decoded audio signals, and means for switching (160) the selected encoded audio signal from an input stage (80, 81, 82) of the conference circuit to an output (161) of the conference circuit, for transmission at least to the N−1 conferees from whom the selected audio signal did not originate. This arrangement enables the audio from one conferee to be provided as the conference signal, without undergoing decoding and subsequent re-encoding. A decision is made as to whether one signal is appropriate or whether multiple audio signals should be combined.

Abstract: A received data stream is formed into a stream of packets, each packet comprising a payload section of data and an overhead section. In forming the packets, a template overhead section is created for use by the stream of packets and this template is applied to the data to form the packets. This avoids the need to individually pass packets through a routing stack, thus reducing the processing demands on the processor which constructs the data packets and reducing the transmission delay experienced by data. The template overhead section can be formed by sending a packet through a routing stack. Another aspect describes apparatus for processing packets where a first processor processes signalling packets and a second processor processes real-time data packets. The first processor can be, used to create the template overhead section before passing the template information to the second processor where it can be used in forming the real-time data packets.

Abstract: An internet website which presents a hierarchical menu structure to users includes a personalization engine 14 to automatically modify the menu structure for each user at least according to that user's previous browsing history at the site. In one embodiment the engine 14 provides, as menu options for a selected menu page of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of the most probable links which the user may wish to reach from the selected menu page. In another embodiment there are provided, as additional menu options for a particular menu page, a plurality of links which are similar, as determined by meeting a predetermined similarity metric, to menu options present on the particular menu page other than through meeting the similarity metric.

Abstract: An internet website which presents a hierarchical menu structure to users includes a personalisation engine 14 to automatically modify the menu structure for each user at least according to that user's previous browsing history at the site. In one embodiment the engine 14 provides, as menu options for a selected menu page of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of the most probable links which the user may wish to reach from the selected menu page. In another embodiment there are provided, as additional menu options for a particular menu page, a plurality of links which are similar, as determined by meeting a predetermined similarity metric, to menu options present on the particular menu page other than through meeting the similarity metric.

Abstract: Web-based telephony applications have recently been developed whereby a user is able to access a web-site and click on links or buttons in order to establish a voice over internet protocol telephone call from for example, his or her PC phone, to another user at another telephone terminal (PC phone or other suitable type of telephone). By enabling a web-based telephony application to receive URIs containing time information it is possible to enable telephone calls (including conference calls) to be initiated automatically at specified times or for feature keys on a user's telephone terminal to be programmed such that when activated at a particular time, a specified telephone call is initiated. In addition, URIs comprising time information may be used to set up “follow-me” functionality whereby all calls to a particular user are directed to different pre-specified directory numbers depending on the time of day.

Abstract: A method of providing media content, such as music and video, to callers on hold involves the generation of the media content locally in the environment of the held caller, rather than the transmission of the content over the network. The local call server of the held caller is signalled when the call has been placed on hold by the server which has placed the call on hold. The caller's server then activates a music-on-hold server (or other media content generator) to provide the media content directly to the caller's telephony terminal. The advantage of this is that the media content is not transmitted across the network, allowing a higher bandwidth to be used locally for the media content without utilising wide area network resources. This results also in the media content being provided in a higher quality format to the caller, avoiding the loss of quality associated with transmitting music using compressive voice codecs over packet-based networks.